Students will identify personal strengths and areas for growth, and understand how a growth mindset can help them develop new skills and overcome challenges.
Recognizing personal strengths builds confidence and a positive self-concept. Understanding areas for growth and applying a growth mindset empowers students to approach learning and challenges with resilience and a positive attitude, which is crucial for both academic and social-emotional development.
Audience
7th Grade Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and guided journaling.
Begin by asking students: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?" (Allow a few students to share). - Transition to discussing that we all have 'real-life superpowers' – our personal strengths and talents. - Introduce the concept of self-awareness as understanding these strengths and also our 'growth areas.' - Present the objective for the lesson using the Strengths & Growth Mindset Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
Step 2
Exploring Strengths & Growth Mindset
10 minutes
Use the Strengths & Growth Mindset Slide Deck (Slides 3-6) to guide a discussion on different types of strengths (e.g., creativity, kindness, problem-solving, leadership). - Introduce the idea of a 'growth mindset' vs. a 'fixed mindset' and how it relates to developing our strengths and addressing growth areas (Slides 7-8). - Provide examples: "Someone with a growth mindset might say, 'I can't do this yet, but I can learn!'"
Step 3
Journaling My Superpowers
10 minutes
Distribute the My Personal Strengths Journal. - Instruct students to complete the prompts in the journal, focusing on identifying their own unique strengths and one area they'd like to develop with a growth mindset. - Encourage them to think about examples of when they've used their strengths or shown a growth mindset. - Circulate to offer support and encouragement.
Step 4
Share and Reflect
5 minutes
Invite students to voluntarily share one strength they identified or one insight from their journal (if they feel comfortable). - Conclude by reiterating that everyone has unique 'superpowers' and that with a growth mindset, they can continually develop and become even stronger versions of themselves. - Encourage students to keep their journals and revisit them.
Slide Deck
My Superpowers!
Unleash Your Inner Hero!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of discovering their inner superpowers!
What Are YOUR Superpowers?
Everyone has special abilities and talents.
These are your personal strengths!
We'll also learn how to make them even stronger.
Explain that today we'll be looking at our personal strengths and how they are like superpowers. We'll also explore how we can grow even stronger.
Ask students to think about different ways people are strong, beyond physical strength. Brainstorm a few examples as a class.
Discovering Your Unique Strengths
What are you good at?
What do you enjoy doing?
What do others say you're good at?
When do you feel most like YOU?
Provide prompts for students to consider their own strengths. Give examples like 'I am good at helping others' or 'I am a good listener.'
Mindset Matters: Fixed vs. Growth
A Fixed Mindset means you think your abilities can't change.
"I'm not good at this, so I give up."
A Growth Mindset means you believe you can learn and grow!
"I can't do this yet, but I can try different strategies!"
Introduce the concept of a 'growth mindset' – the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work. Contrast this with a 'fixed mindset' – believing abilities are set.
Growing Our Superpowers
Even superheroes have to train!
When you have a growth mindset, you see challenges as chances to get stronger.
Practice, learn, and don't be afraid to make mistakes!
Explain that even our 'growth areas' (things we're not great at yet) can become strengths with practice and a growth mindset.
Journal Your Superpowers!
Time to reflect on your amazing strengths and how you can continue to grow.
Use your My Personal Strengths Journal to explore your inner hero!
Transition to the journaling activity. Explain that the journal is a place for them to reflect personally.
Journal
My Personal Superpowers Journal
Discovering Your Inner Hero
Prompt 1: My Top Three Superpowers (Strengths)
What are three things you are really good at? Think about school, home, hobbies, or how you interact with friends. These are your personal superpowers! Describe each one and give an example of when you used it.
Superpower 1:
Example:
Superpower 2:
Example:
Superpower 3:
Example:
Prompt 2: My Growth Area (The Superpower I'm Training)
Think about one area where you'd like to improve or learn more. This isn't a weakness, but a superpower you are still training! How do you plan to use a growth mindset to develop this area? What steps can you take?
My Growth Area:
How I'll Train My Superpower (Growth Mindset Plan):
Prompt 3: How My Superpowers Help Others
How can your strengths (superpowers) help your friends, family, or classmates? Think about how you contribute to a team or make a positive impact.
Prompt 4: My Superpower Affirmation
Write one sentence that celebrates your unique abilities and reminds you that you can always grow. For example: "I am a creative problem-solver, and I am always learning!"
